Astrology Explained: How the Stars Shape Your Personality

The earliest system of what we now know as astrology came from the Babylonians. Over the millennia since, other cultures, like the Greeks and Egyptians, refined that system and added to it.

In modern days, astrology tends to shift in and out of popularity. But for those who truly commit to studying how the stars affect our lives, astrology is more than a trend. In fact, astrology explained properly can help you understand yourself, make better decisions, and succeed in life overall.

How does astrology work? In this guide, we’ll answer your questions about the basics of astrology. Keep reading to learn what the stars can teach you about life!

What is Astrology?

For centuries, humans have known that the movements of the planets and stars can affect things on earth. For example, in the 17th century, people first discovered that the moon was responsible for the tides.

Astrology takes that concept one step further. According to astrologers, the movements of heavenly bodies don’t just impact the physical realities on Earth. They can also impact the way humans feel, behave, and interact.

Of course, it’s virtually impossible to measure these kinds of effects, so astrology never took its place among the sciences — and maybe it never will. Still, many people apply their lives to learning the “science of astrology.” For those who believe in it, the evidence is clear and compelling.

How Does Astrology Work?

Springing from the basic concept that the movements of stars and plants impact our lives, astrologers seek to explain exactly how and why those impacts occur.

The basic aspect of astrology that most people are familiar with is the concept of zodiac signs. This is a very simple type of astrology that uses the date when someone was born to determine some likely personality traits.

However, this simplified “sun-sign” astrology, though important, doesn’t give the full picture. For accuracy, astrologers also need to look at the exact time and place where someone was born. This lets them see the sign that each planet was in at that time and location, so they can round out the picture of what that person is like.

Keep in mind that natal astrology, which analyzes a person based on the date and time of birth, is just one aspect of the bigger picture of astrology. While it’s the most-talked-about type of astrology today, other branches of astrology examine world affairs or events, too.

Let’s take a closer look at the breakdown of different elements in natal astrology.

Sun Sign

Your zodiac sign — the one that’s referenced in your horoscope — is your sun sign. This refers to the sign that the sun was located in when you were born.

To figure out the sun sign, astrologers look at the position of the sun relative to the constellations of the zodiac. For example, if the constellation Aquarius was located behind the sun when someone was born, their sign is Aquarius.

Astrologers believe that people with the same sun sign share certain traits, although of course there’s a wide variation within each individual sign.

Also, if someone was born close to the transition between signs, they’ll often share traits of both signs. Because the planets don’t move like clockwork — they have variations in their movements from year to year — it can be hard to truly pinpoint where one sun sign ends and another begins.

Rising Sign

Many people learn about their sun signs and stop there. But anyone who wants to seriously delve into astrology needs to also learn about the other signs that affect our lives. The second-most important one is arguably the rising sign.

In fact, some astrologers hold other signs, such as the rising sign, as more important than the sun sign.

Your rising sign refers to the constellation that was rising over the horizon at your time of birth. Many astrologers believe that the rising sign actually accounts for your first impression on people, even more than your sun sign does. It’s only after people get to know you better than your sun sign nature will become apparent.

Moon Sign

The moon sign is calculated using the position of the moon at your time and place of birth. Since the moon changes positions so often, it’s very hard to accurately calculate moon signs. However, this is another important aspect of natal astrology: moon signs determine your emotions and inner life.

Sometimes, the moon sign plays a significant role in your outward life. Other times, your moon sign traits may only become apparent when you’re emotional due to outside factors like high stress.

Other Signs

In addition to sun, rising, and moon signs, we’re also influenced by many other signs on our birth charts. To know them all, you’ll need the exact date, time, and location of your birth.

If your sun sign doesn’t seem to match your traits, look at the other signs, and you might see things that describe you more accurately. Although popular astrology, like horoscopes, treats the sun sign as the most important one, serious astrologers will tell you that that’s far from the truth.

In a complete astrological chart, each of the nine planets has a position relative to the constellations that tells you something about yourself. Every one of those planets governs a different aspect of life. For example, Mercury rules communication, while Mars rules conflict.

Many people dismiss astrology simply because their sun sign doesn’t seem to describe them. But the explanation for certain traits or behaviors might lie with a different planet entirely.

Need Your Own Astrology Explained?

It’s one thing to look up a weekly horoscope and read about your sun sign. But it’s quite another to have your natal astrology explained on a deeper level, with a complete chart of every planet’s location when you were born.

If you want an accurate chart, it’s important to contact a professional. Looking for trusted astrologers? Check out our online directory here!